As you know, our school community spent many months during the last school year revisiting and revising our school's mission and vision (see below). In discussions about how to achieve our vision (3-5 year plan), we determined that this would be best achieved through ongoing professional development. During the spring, our staff voted to contract with Envisions Learning Partners  

Over the course of the next few years, ELP will work with the Salmon Bay K-8 staff to align curriculum and instruction to assessment, to design a vibrant professional learning community and to create a culture of revision to support adult and student learning. ELP provides coaching to help schools make the shift to teaching and measuring 21st century skills that improve both student and teacher performance. Here are some of the ways that our partnership will assist us in achieving our vision:  

1. ELP work is aligned with Common Core State standards.

2. ELP has a specific focus on developing and assessing 21st century skills.

3. ELP has a strong focus on project based learning, standards based planning and the development of a graduation (8th grade at SB K-8) assessment system -- portfolio and defense -- not just assessment of individual projects.

4. ELP offers year-round, side-by-side, collaborative professional development/coaching in addition to upfront training.

5. ELP offers tangible tools (performance tasks, rubrics) along with a technology platform to make assessment work purposeful and manageable for students and teachers

As I shared in an email last week, the first step in our partnership is to conduct a Needs Assessment using staff, parent and student feedback. Thank you so much to all of the parents and guardians who have already volunteered to complete the online survey. Once the Needs Assessment survey is complete, our staff will work with our Envisions Learning partners to develop a comprehensive professional development plan that is tailored specifically to our school's needs. We will begin this work during our October 11th professional development workday.

I look forward to sharing more about this with you throughout the year. Stay tuned!

Thanks,

Jen

Salmon Bay K-8 Mission:

We Empower Compassionate, Creative and Independent Thinkers.

Salmon Bay K-8 Vision:

Salmon Bay K-8 will provide all students with a physically and emotionally safe space to engage in challenging, integrated and experiential learning, and will prepare them to become resourceful and responsible citizens in an ever-changing, diverse world.

Every Day in School Matters

Today I witnessed the wonderful mental math ability of a student as I shared that this was the 19th day of school. "Only 171 more days of school." blurted back the eager middle school student.  It is certainly fun to joke about being at school; however, putting all jokes aside it is extremely important that we make the most of the wonderful education being provided.  

School attendance, even at a young age, can be a key predictor of whether a student succeeds and graduates ready for college and a career.  While good attendance is critical to academic success, chronic absenteeism puts students at risk of academic failure and eventually dropping out.

This school year, Seattle Public Schools has set a goal to reduce the number of students at-risk for chronic absenteeism: 80% of students will have fewer than 10 absences in school year 2013 - 2014.

We all have to do more to ensure our students are motivated to attend school every day. The Seattle Mayor's Office is partnering with Seattle Public Schools to support attendance with the 'Be Here Get There' campaign.                                                             

The 'Be Here Get There Attendance' Campaign aims to:

• Educate students, families and the community about the shared responsibility to get students to school on a daily basis;

• Help make schools accessible and engaging to students;

• Reward positive attendance behavior.

Support Good Attendance

You can help your child maintain good attendance by following the points listed below:

• At night: Set bedtimes that allow for a story or reading and 8-10 hours of sleep.

• In the morning: Get your child up in time to have breakfast at home or at school, and get to school early. Give your child their own alarm clock and help them use it.

• After school: Ask your child about the day, check for notes from school, review the day's homework assignments, and make sure there is a place and enough time to do homework.

• During the school year: Go to school events, join the PTA/PTO, attend parent teacher conferences, and get to know your child's teacher.

• Help your child set goals for good grades.

• Ask for help when you and your child need it.

• Praise your child for hard work and learning!

Below highlight's Salmon Bay's Attendance Policies:

Absences: Please call the attendance office at 252-1728 before the school's start time. Excused absences require a note or phone call from the parent/guardian. Any absence of five or more consecutive days requires a doctor's note.

Planned Absences: Students learn best when they are in school.  Before making plans and purchasing tickets, please submit a Planned Absence Form at least one week prior to the absence, which can be found in the main office or online.

Tardiness: Students learn best when they are on time. Students who are late must report to the attendance office to sign-in and obtain an admit slip to be given to the teacher. Unexcused tardiness includes such things as oversleeping, missing the bus, babysitting, student job requirements, etc.

Truancy: Truancy occurs when a student is absent without permission, and will result in disciplinary action.

Leaving during the day: Students must bring a signed note from the parent/guardian, and the student or parent must sign-out at the main office.

Hi Parents,

Hopefully everyone came out of this weekend's crazy downpour unscathed. It's a good time to remind our kids that it's important to bring their rain gear out with them recess. We try to send the kids outside unless it's totally miserable out, so kids should come to school dressed for the weather. Please label all gear with your child's name.

On Wednesday morning our Middle Schoolers will be using the upper field to load up for their 3-day camp trip. Please be advised that the traffic around the school and Salmon Bay Park (another loading site) may be heavier as parents drop off their campers and gear. Also on Wednesday the upper field will be closed to students prior to the first bell.

Thanks to all the families that have turned in their first day packets. If you haven't had a chance to do so yet, please turn them in to your child's teacher as soon as possible. It is very important that we have this information from each student.

Early next week your child's teacher and I will send an Enrichment Fee letter out to each family. The Enrichment Fee is money that we collect that covers field trips, artist in residence and other activities that enrich the standard curriculum. Instead of asking for five dollars here and ten dollars there, we ask for it all at once. It is vital that when you receive this letter you follow the instructions to send in a payment, sign up for a payment plan, or request a scholarship.

Thanks,

Sharon

Dear Middle School Families,

Finally, we are heading to camp on Wednesday!   Thank you for all that you have done to help us send our 360 middle school students, 25 staff members and 75 parent volunteers to camp!   Wow, what a cumbersome process it is, but one that we do gladly so that our students have the amazing experience of going to camp.  We couldn't do it without all of you and we thank you! 

PIE (Parent Information Exchange) speakers Monday 10/7 from 7-9PM in the auditorium.   Lisa Sharp from Seattle Public Schools will give an overview of the drug situation in our area. Caleb Banta-Green ( Salmon Bay parent and nationally known drug overdose prevention educator) will talk about what parents can do to protect their kids. There will be time for your questions to be answered. 7-8 PM Lisa and Caleb will present. 8-8:30 questions and 8:30-9 pie and tea. Parents from all grades welcome.

I am headed to camp on Wednesday with the 6th grade team so if you need anything Wed.-Fri. please contact Sharon Feliciano (the elementary volunteer coordinator) at slmaglianofe@seattleschools.org.   

Have a great week, 

Caitlin

Salmon Bay After-School Program [ASP] News

Registration for several after-school classes has been extended until Friday. The classes are: Kids in Motion, Fiber Arts Class, Chess and Family P.E. with Mr. G. 

Salmon Bay After-School Program [ASP] News

Registration for several after-school classes has been extended until Friday. The classes are: Kids in Motion, Fiber Arts Class, Chess and Family P.E. with Mr. G. 

Kids in Motion (Grades 2-5):

Time: 2:35-3:45pm

Dates: Mondays - Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 18; Dec. 2, 9, 16

Instructor: Gretchen Gray

Fee: $95 total

Fiber Arts Class (Grades K-5):

Time: 2:35-4:15pm

Dates: Mondays - Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4, 18; Dec. 2, 9, 16

Instructor: Linda Kjarstad

Fee: $168

Chess Club (Grades K-8):

Time: 2:35-4:15pm

Dates: Mondays until April 2014

Instructor: Tom Kolar

Fee: $25

Family P.E. with Mr. G (Grades K-5):

Time: 2:35-3:45pm

Dates: Fridays - Oct. 4, 18, 25; Nov. 1

Instructor: Mr. G

Fee: $18/session (4 sessions total)

Please note: Registration for Programming Club and Kung Fu is closed; the classes are full.

Thank you,

Mindy

ASP Co-Coordinator

October is Walk-n-Wheel Month

Salmon Bay is excited to participate in the annual Walk-n-Wheel month this October, promoting healthy, alternative ways of getting to school each day.  

Each Friday during Walk-n-Wheel month we will be hosting a welcome station for kids who walk, bike, scooter or ride the bus to school.  

We will be handing out punch cards and calendars to students to keep track of their progress.  Walking School Buses and Bike Trains are being planned -- stay tuned.

And if you must drive a car to school but want to participate, consider parking 4-5 blocks away from the school and walking in with your child.  Who knows, it may become a routine.

Wow...what a difference a year makes! Last year, September was all about wrapping up one construction project (the roof) and getting ready for another (the air ducting.) This year, we've already circulated over 1,500 books and almost all of our students have visited the library with a class at least once. Lastly, I have an active cadre of elementary and middle school students helping us keep up with all of this activity!

A hearty "thank you" to the many parents who have offered their volunteer services. If you haven't heard from me yet, you will soon. There are always ongoing projects in the library, from shelving to book repair. Something for everyone!

We've been reading some great books this month, and the favorite so far (based on informal surveys) is Doodleday, by Ross Collins. It has also inspired some very imaginative drawing! If you haven't already heard about it, be sure to ask your student why you wouldn't want to have your drawing utensils hanging around on Doodleday!

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. My schedule is always a bit unpredictable, so email is probably best. laillman@seattleschools.org 

Happy reading!

Highlights of the week:

Tomorrow is "Breakfast for Lunch" day, with a choice of egg & cheese muffin or waffles & turkey sausage. Thursday we're serving homemade vegetarian chili with tortilla chips. For Friday's breakfast we are serving warmed homemade zucchini bread, & for lunch homemade beef soft tacos.

Breakfast is served every morning starting at 8:00am. We offer a choice if hot entree or whole grain cereal, including gluten free Rice Chex The price for breakfast is $1.75 elementary, $2.00 middle school.  

Lunch is $2.75 elementary, $3.00 middle school. Milk & fruit can be purchased separately for 50 cents each.

Some middle school students like to purchase a 2nd entree which costs $2.75. Please discuss with your child what they are allowed to purchase.

If your child receives free or reduced lunch, please make sure they know that they must take a full lunch, not just a milk, or they will be charged 50 cents.

Upcoming PIE Events (Please Check the sidebar for PIE's new blog!)  

Please mark your calendars for next Monday, October 7, 7-9 pm. Lisa Sharp from Seattle Public Schools will give an overview of the drug situation in our area. Caleb Banta-Green (a Salmon Bay parent) will talk about what parents can do to protect their kids. There will be time for your questions to be answered. 7-8 PM Lisa and Caleb will present. 8-8:30 questions and 8:30-9 pie and tea. Parents from all grades welcome. Location: Salmon Bay Auditorium.

The Raising Our Daughters Book Club is now forming.  We'll meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month to discuss the chapters of this enriching book, at TC Cooke's house in North Ballard.  While this book (and its twin, Raising Our Sons) are helpful at any age, this group will focus on parents of girls in 5th-8th grade at Salmon Bay.  Our first meeting is on Tuesday October 8th from 7:00 - 8:30 or 9:00 pm.  Bring wine or a snack to share, or don't ~ either way is fine!  

If you're interested, have questions or are signing up and need the address, please email TC at  barefoot.tc@gmail.com.  Or call:  206-276-2606.  Interested in forming the Raising Our Sons Book Group?  Great!  Email TC for how to get started.

Chinook Books and Apps

Get your Chinook Books and Apps while you still can!  HALF of the price goes to FOSB.  What a deal!

Choose: Chinook Book ($20), Chinook App ($15), or Combo Pack ($30) (includes one of each)

If you don't have a form, please just use any 'ol piece of paper.  Please include: 

1. Your name and e-mail   2. What and how many you'd like to order  and

3. How you'd like to get it: a) Pick up in Sharon's office or b) Teacher's name (have it come home with your student via their homeroom teacher)

Make checks out to FOSB.

You may either send your order in with your student and have them give it to their homeroom teacher, or drop it in the Main office, in the mailbox marked CHINOOK.

Thanks a bunch!

Suzanne Waller

 suzaroo@gmail.com  

Mini Grants

FOSB has $5000 to award in mini grants this year.  The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, October 25, 2013.  Applications can be found in the office, by clicking this link http://www.salmonbayschool.org/forms/fosb-mini-grant-application or by contacting Katherine Ropp (fosbtreasurer@gmail.com).  The grant recipient slate will be announced and voted on at the Nov. 14th FOSB meeting.

Volunteers Needed

Hi Families,

This new committee is dedicated to improve communication of FOSB activity to and from families through a network of elementary and middle school parent liaisons. We are currently seeking parents interested in volunteering to be a liaison representing all parents in a particular class or grade level. A liaison would:

• Maintain an email group for their class or grade
• Rotate attendance with other liaisons to monthly FOSB meetings (depending on the number of liaisons, may be 1-2 times per year) and share with other liaisons for dissemination.
• Send monthly email to class/grade with updates from FOSB meetings and bring relevant parent topics to FOSB meetings. (e.g. walking school bus, elections/recruiting, survey participation)
• Coordinate with other liaisons as needed

This is a great way for parents to volunteer who have limited availability to volunteer at the school or in the classroom. We hope that you join us in our goal to help families connect with FOSB. If interested, please email Hillary at hikkerfeet@comcast.net and let us know you are interested. We are in particular need of parents willing to represent a K, 3, 6 grade class(s). We will be having an orientation in late October or early November so let me know if you are interested soon.

Thanks so much,

FOSB Class Liaison Committee members

(Hillary, Danielle, Darcy, Sara Knopf)

Come aboard and explore working, historic tugboats, fishboats and workboats. Enjoy an exciting family-oriented day with maritime and marine professionals, demonstrations, and fun, food and drink.